Tweet
Arsenal v Birmingham
Emirates Stadium
Saturday, 12 January
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day.
Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos is available to play at centre-back after overcoming a knee injury, and unsettled keeper Jens Lehmann is on the bench.
Robin van Persie is out with flu, while Emmanuel Eboue, Alexandre Song and Kolo Toure are on international duty.
Birmingham have recalled Martin Taylor, while Damien Johnson is set to play with a protective mask two weeks after suffering a slight skull fracture.
Oivier Kapo has recovered from a knee injury and will travel to London.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"Every game we want 100% focus and we want to show that we want to play for the championship.
"Every game is now very important so you cannot drop any points.
"We still feel we have a competitive side even if Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alexandre Song are away."
• Birmingham boss Alex McLeish:
"I want to bring in players I feel I can move forward with, but I don't expect anyone to be in by kick-off time on Saturday. "I don't want to bring anyone in just to fill up the numbers in the squad.
"I could do that and then I would regret that further down the line and say we are no farther forward."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Arsenal are top of the table by two points from Manchester United; Birmingham two points above the relegation zone.
The Gunners are going strong on all four fronts; the Brummies must pick themselves up after being knocked out of the FA Cup by League One Huddersfield last Saturday.
Arsene Wenger's side have won three times as many league matches as City (15 to five), scored almost twice as many goals (42 to 22) and conceded half as many (16 to 32).
Birmingham are yet to score a Premier League goal on Arsenal turf, and are hunting a first League win at the north London club in over 50 years.
CLUB FORM
ARSENAL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
1. The only club to have been beaten only once in this Premier League season; away to Middlesbrough.
2. One of two clubs to have won 15 Premier League matches; the other is Manchester United.
3. The joint top scorers in the highest league (with Tottenham). They have both netted 42 in 21, averaging two per game, one per half, or one every 45 minutes.
4. Undefeated in nine in all competitions; won seven and drawn two since losing at the Riverside on 9 December.
5. On the joint longest current run in the Premier League of five matches; along with Aston Villa and Manchester City.
6. Scored seven goals in the first 15 minutes of Premier League games this season; only Tottenham match that.
7. Netted 17 and conceded twice in the last 15 minutes of Premier League matches this term; no club can match those figures.
8. The current tally of 50 points from the first 21 games is their best ever return in a Premier League season; eclipsing the 49 points to this same stage accrued in the unbeaten, title-winning campaign of 2003-04.
9. Won the last four home league games, and one of four clubs defending an unbeaten home record in the Premier League. Completed 15 league games at the Emirates without defeat; won 10 and drawn one this season, and won 13 and drawn two since the 0-1 reverse to West Ham on 7 April.
10. A London derby away to Fulham follows next Saturday, before the second leg of the Carling Cup with Tottenham at White Hart Lane and the FA Cup fourth round tie, home to either Stoke or Newcastle. They could face Newcastle twice in three days with the home Premier League fixture following.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 13th
Lowest could fall: 17th
1. Lost the last two; away to Manchester United in the league and Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
2. Registered one win in six league outings; 3-0, home to Middlesbrough on Boxing day.
3. Won two, drawn two and lost three of seven league games under Alex McLeish.
4. Lost 12 Premier League matches; only rock bottom Derby have been beaten more often (16).
5. One stalemate short of 50 Premier League draws all-time.
6. Conceded six goals in the last five minutes of Premier League matches; only Fulham and Tottenham identify with that.
7. Yet to beat a top half club; drawn one (goalless at Liverpool) and lost nine of 10 fixtures against sides currently in the top 10.
8. Lost the last three away league games; against Newcastle, Bolton and Manchester United.
9. Not gained a point on the road since the 2-3 victory against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on McLeish's debut as manager on 2 December. Derby is the only other club from which they have returned with maximum points.
10. The remaining fixtures in January involve a home clash with Chelsea and a vital trip to Sunderland.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
ARSENAL
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR is Arsenal's top scorer with 12 Premier League goals.
Arsenal have never lost when ADEBAYOR has scored; winning 21 and drawing three of the 24 matches in which he's netted.
Only Kolo TOURE has been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:- Theo WALCOTT will be making his 50th career league appearance (Southampton and Arsenal).
Nicolas BENDTNER will be facing the club he was on loan to last season, making 48 appearances (42 in the league) for Birmingham, scoring 13 goals (11 league).
If on the field from the outset:- Robin VAN PERSIE will be making his 50th Premier League start - all for the Gunners.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Olivier KAPO and Cameron JEROME are Birmingham's joint top scorers with five Premier League goals each.
Stephen KELLY has played every minute of every one of Birmingham's Premier League games this season.
Garry O'CONNOR is a hat-trick shy of 50 goals in English and Scottish league football (Hibernian and Birmingham).
If selected:- Liam RIDEGELL will be making his 100th Premier League appearance (Aston Villa and Birmingham).
Sebastian LARSSON will be facing a former club. The 22 year old midfielder made 12 appearances (three in the league) for Arsenal before joining Birmingham on 31 January 2007, after a period on loan at St Andrews.
Fabrice MUAMBA will also be meeting former colleagues. The 19 year old midfielder made two appearances for the Gunners before joining the Brummies on 26 July 2006.
HEAD TO HEAD
Arsenal are defending an unbeaten home Premier League record against Birmingham. City have not won at Arsenal since a 1-3 triumph on 19 October 1957, drawing seven and losing 16 of their 23 subsequent league visits to the North London club.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Arsenal 54 wins, Birmingham 34, Draws 30
Prem: Arsenal 6 wins, Birmingham 1, Draws 1
at Arsenal only
League (inc PL): Arsenal 38 wins, Birmingham 4, Draws 17
Prem: Arsenal 3 wins, Birmingham 0, Draws 1
REFEREE
Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Emirates Stadium
Saturday, 12 January
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day.
Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos is available to play at centre-back after overcoming a knee injury, and unsettled keeper Jens Lehmann is on the bench.
Robin van Persie is out with flu, while Emmanuel Eboue, Alexandre Song and Kolo Toure are on international duty.
Birmingham have recalled Martin Taylor, while Damien Johnson is set to play with a protective mask two weeks after suffering a slight skull fracture.
Oivier Kapo has recovered from a knee injury and will travel to London.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"Every game we want 100% focus and we want to show that we want to play for the championship.
"Every game is now very important so you cannot drop any points.
"We still feel we have a competitive side even if Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alexandre Song are away."
• Birmingham boss Alex McLeish:
"I want to bring in players I feel I can move forward with, but I don't expect anyone to be in by kick-off time on Saturday. "I don't want to bring anyone in just to fill up the numbers in the squad.
"I could do that and then I would regret that further down the line and say we are no farther forward."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Arsenal are top of the table by two points from Manchester United; Birmingham two points above the relegation zone.
The Gunners are going strong on all four fronts; the Brummies must pick themselves up after being knocked out of the FA Cup by League One Huddersfield last Saturday.
Arsene Wenger's side have won three times as many league matches as City (15 to five), scored almost twice as many goals (42 to 22) and conceded half as many (16 to 32).
Birmingham are yet to score a Premier League goal on Arsenal turf, and are hunting a first League win at the north London club in over 50 years.
CLUB FORM
ARSENAL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
1. The only club to have been beaten only once in this Premier League season; away to Middlesbrough.
2. One of two clubs to have won 15 Premier League matches; the other is Manchester United.
3. The joint top scorers in the highest league (with Tottenham). They have both netted 42 in 21, averaging two per game, one per half, or one every 45 minutes.
4. Undefeated in nine in all competitions; won seven and drawn two since losing at the Riverside on 9 December.
5. On the joint longest current run in the Premier League of five matches; along with Aston Villa and Manchester City.
6. Scored seven goals in the first 15 minutes of Premier League games this season; only Tottenham match that.
7. Netted 17 and conceded twice in the last 15 minutes of Premier League matches this term; no club can match those figures.
8. The current tally of 50 points from the first 21 games is their best ever return in a Premier League season; eclipsing the 49 points to this same stage accrued in the unbeaten, title-winning campaign of 2003-04.
9. Won the last four home league games, and one of four clubs defending an unbeaten home record in the Premier League. Completed 15 league games at the Emirates without defeat; won 10 and drawn one this season, and won 13 and drawn two since the 0-1 reverse to West Ham on 7 April.
10. A London derby away to Fulham follows next Saturday, before the second leg of the Carling Cup with Tottenham at White Hart Lane and the FA Cup fourth round tie, home to either Stoke or Newcastle. They could face Newcastle twice in three days with the home Premier League fixture following.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 13th
Lowest could fall: 17th
1. Lost the last two; away to Manchester United in the league and Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
2. Registered one win in six league outings; 3-0, home to Middlesbrough on Boxing day.
3. Won two, drawn two and lost three of seven league games under Alex McLeish.
4. Lost 12 Premier League matches; only rock bottom Derby have been beaten more often (16).
5. One stalemate short of 50 Premier League draws all-time.
6. Conceded six goals in the last five minutes of Premier League matches; only Fulham and Tottenham identify with that.
7. Yet to beat a top half club; drawn one (goalless at Liverpool) and lost nine of 10 fixtures against sides currently in the top 10.
8. Lost the last three away league games; against Newcastle, Bolton and Manchester United.
9. Not gained a point on the road since the 2-3 victory against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on McLeish's debut as manager on 2 December. Derby is the only other club from which they have returned with maximum points.
10. The remaining fixtures in January involve a home clash with Chelsea and a vital trip to Sunderland.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
ARSENAL
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR is Arsenal's top scorer with 12 Premier League goals.
Arsenal have never lost when ADEBAYOR has scored; winning 21 and drawing three of the 24 matches in which he's netted.
Only Kolo TOURE has been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:- Theo WALCOTT will be making his 50th career league appearance (Southampton and Arsenal).
Nicolas BENDTNER will be facing the club he was on loan to last season, making 48 appearances (42 in the league) for Birmingham, scoring 13 goals (11 league).
If on the field from the outset:- Robin VAN PERSIE will be making his 50th Premier League start - all for the Gunners.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Olivier KAPO and Cameron JEROME are Birmingham's joint top scorers with five Premier League goals each.
Stephen KELLY has played every minute of every one of Birmingham's Premier League games this season.
Garry O'CONNOR is a hat-trick shy of 50 goals in English and Scottish league football (Hibernian and Birmingham).
If selected:- Liam RIDEGELL will be making his 100th Premier League appearance (Aston Villa and Birmingham).
Sebastian LARSSON will be facing a former club. The 22 year old midfielder made 12 appearances (three in the league) for Arsenal before joining Birmingham on 31 January 2007, after a period on loan at St Andrews.
Fabrice MUAMBA will also be meeting former colleagues. The 19 year old midfielder made two appearances for the Gunners before joining the Brummies on 26 July 2006.
HEAD TO HEAD
Arsenal are defending an unbeaten home Premier League record against Birmingham. City have not won at Arsenal since a 1-3 triumph on 19 October 1957, drawing seven and losing 16 of their 23 subsequent league visits to the North London club.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Arsenal 54 wins, Birmingham 34, Draws 30
Prem: Arsenal 6 wins, Birmingham 1, Draws 1
at Arsenal only
League (inc PL): Arsenal 38 wins, Birmingham 4, Draws 17
Prem: Arsenal 3 wins, Birmingham 0, Draws 1
REFEREE
Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)